By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, University of Mobile
GOD’S DELIVERANCE
Psalm 18:16–29
Psalm 18 is the fourth longest psalm in the Book of Psalms. It is the first long psalm in the Psalter, consisting of 50 verses. Psalm 18 is a thanksgiving psalm, which follows naturally after Psalm 17, a lament psalm. In his lament David described himself as being surrounded by deadly enemies who were intent on his destruction.
He cried out for deliverance and confidently waited for God to rescue him. In Psalm 18 we have David praising God for repeatedly delivering him from all his enemies.
The psalm is divided into five sections. First, David declared that the Lord was his God and worthy to be praised (vv. 1–3). Second, David described how the Lord saved him from his enemies (vv. 4–19). Third, David recounted God’s persistent faithfulness to him (vv. 20–29). Fourth, David set forth how God had prepared him for battle and enabled him to prevail (vv. 30–45). Fifth, David concluded this thanksgiving psalm by thanking and praising the Lord (vv. 46–50).
The God Who Rescues (16–19)
The second section of Psalm 18 is David’s account of how the Lord saved him from a near-death experience at the hands of his enemies. God came to David’s rescue, intervening dramatically on his behalf. This bursting upon the scene is represented poetically as an earthquake and a parting of the heavens as the Lord came down in vengeance to deal with David’s enemies (vv. 7–15).
Using poetic language, David painted a picture of himself about to drown in the midst of a violent storm at sea. His situation was hopeless. He was being overtaken by powerful enemies who had him surrounded. He would have died if God had not rescued him by reaching down and delivering him from his enemies. God made a way for David when there was no way.
Why did God rescue David? Verse 19 says God rescued David because He delighted in him. God lavishes amazing grace upon those who trust in Him. Trust God when you are drowning in the depths of uncertainty and battered by the waves of opposition.
Faithfulness Rewarded (20–24)
These verses must not be taken out of context, making David appear to be an arrogant boaster. He was not claiming sinless perfection.
He acknowledged that he was responsible for living with integrity in the covenant relationship with the Lord, but he was fully dependent on God’s resources to do so.
David expressed the principle that God honors righteousness and judges sin even in this life. When we, by God’s grace, live for God and seek to walk in His ways, God cares for us and blesses us. When we go our own way, we bring misery and destruction on ourselves.
Hope Given (25–29)
God rewards man according to his character. God will bless those who are faithful, blameless and pure, but he will harshly judge those who are wicked. God will help the humble because they depend on Him, but God will humble the people who pridefully trust in themselves. If a person insists on pursuing his devious ways, God will reward him accordingly, giving him what he deserves.
David testified that God was with him as he contended with his enemies and faced dark times in his life. God lightens the darkness and sustains His people with hope. When God illuminated David’s dark thoughts of defeat and despair, he was emboldened to press on and stay in the fight.
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